BRAZIL/AMERICAS-Argentina Political and Economic Issues 9 Nov 11

Argentina Political and Economic Issues 9 Nov 11
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oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov. – Argentina – OSC Summary
Wednesday November 9, 2011 19:58:15 GMT
– Buenos Aires La Nacion’s US correspondent Silvia Pisani reports from
Washington that with a new negative vote on two credits from the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which were granted finally and
totaled $33 million, Barack Obama’s administration yesterday confirmed its
decision to sanction Argentina for “non-compliance” of international
commitments. The confirmation of pressure on the country came just four
days after Presidents Obama and Cristina Kirchner had a face-to-face
meeting, considered by the Whites House to be an “important opportunity”
to restructure the relationship, after the ups and down s that it suffered
in the recent past. The personal praise by Obama of Cristina Kirchner,
which caused her, as she said, “a little bit of pride,” was not reflected
in political media here or in press media either. Yesterday, not only did
Washington confirm its pressure on Argentina until it attended the
financial claims being made on it, especially in the International Center
for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), but there was also a
warning in the Capitol about the institutional reverse and the freedom of
the press in the country. (Buenos Aires lanacion.com in Spanish — Website
of conservative, second highest-circulation daily; generally critical of
government; URL:

– Buenos Aires La Nacion ‘s Pisani reports from Washington that the first
mention for Argentina here after the meeting between Cristina Kirchner and
Obama was to wa rn about “some reverse” in the quality of the institutions
and of the freedom of the press and also about possible “growth of the
authoritarianism” that weakens the democracy in the country. That was the
first and suggestive reference four days after the bilateral meeting that
the two presidents held during the G-20 Summit in Cannes -during which
Obama described Cristina Kirchner as “a personal friend and of the United
States”- and it was made in the in the Senate yesterday, in the crucial
meeting to evaluate the nomination of Roberta Jacobson as the new
assistant secretary for the region, by Robert Menendez (New Jersey), who
expressed similar concerns about Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua,
and Belize and committed to work to improve them. Decision Surprises Casa
Rosada

– Buenos Aires La Nacion reports that “silence and uncertainty” descended
on Casa Rosada last night after the new refusal by the United States to
approve two new IDB credits requested by Argentina. Amid the unawareness
of the new developments arriving from Washington and the surprise about
the vote against, Ministers Amado Boudou (economy) and Hector Timerman
(foreign) avoided making statements. Amid the uncertainty, official
sources said that the decision depended on the Department of the Treasury,
with autonomy from the White House. Thus, they were seeking consolation
for what could be a new reverse from Obama, despite the good vibes that he
displayed with Cristina Kirchner. Commentary Obama’s Friendliness To CFK
Only Heralds Possible Future

– Buenos Aires La Nacion’s political columnist Joaquin Morales Sola writes
that US politics is a “dual” highway: political politeness is not
necessarily correlated to economic issues and while the “powerful”
Department of the Treasury prefers to listen to companies and bondholders
scorned by Argentina or simply avoid problems in a Congress controlled by
” tough and conservative” Republicans, the Department of State prefers to
win a future ally -preparations for war are underway in the Mid East,
although Obama is unlikely to want another war when he is emerging from
almost all those that he inherited from George W. Bush- rather than add on
an “indignant.” Meanwhile, perhaps nobody told Cristina Kirchner that
Obama’s friendly words in Cannes, which delighted her so much, were only
the beginning of something that has still not occurred. (Translating as
LAP20111109021001) Government Making ‘Significant’ Foreign-Policy
Decisions

– Buenos Aires Clarin’s general editor Ricardo Kirschbaum writes that the
appointment of Luis Kreckler as new ambassador to Brasilia, the second (or
first?) embassy of importance for Argentina, is a “significant” decision.
Outwardly, its objective is to highlight the economic importance of the
relationship with Brazil. Inwardly, Kreckler is no longer a candidate to
head the Foreign Ministry. The decision was preceded by the meeting with
Obama, negotiated “directly” with Casa Rosada, through Alfredo Chiaradia,
ambassador to Washington. It is already known that Obama will not come to
Buenos Aires next year. Meanwhile, Cristina Kirchner’s friendly dialog
with Obama touched “all issues,” even those that the Argentine spokesmen
denied: Iran, on which Obama was “emphatic” without admitting variables;
the ICSID, on which Argentina has to find a way to pay claims by US
companies; and how to shorten the timeframe to pay the Paris Club. Other
international issues Uruguayan President Urges Not To Complicate
Relationship

– Buenos Aires La Nacion reports that in statements yesterday, Jose Mugica
urged “not” to complicate the relationship with Argentina after the
reactions to the list given by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, which
included Uruguay as a “tax haven,” at the request, according to the U
ruguayan opposition, of President Cristina Kirchner. Rio Grande do Sul
Governor Highlights CFK’s Victory –

Tarso Genaro tells Buenos Aires Pagina /12’s Dario Pignotti in an
interview from Porto Alegre -1,149 words- that “the European crisis does
not affect Brazil.” He adds that Cristina Kirchner’s reelection “did
justice to the level of trust that she conquered” and that her victory
“coincides with the sentiment that there is in Latin America that we
should reinforce our continental relations, have a project of
interdependent cooperation with the EU, reinforce the Brics, and promote
internal reforms.” (Buenos Aires Pagina/12 Online in Spanish — Online
version of center-left daily owned by Clarin media group; generally
supports government; URL:

– Buenos Aires Foreign Ministry website reports on 8 November that
Argentina, through the White Berets and the Embassy in El Salvador, has
sent humanitarian aid for the emergency declared as result of the constant
and intense rains, which have spread to Honduras and Nicaragua. (Buenos
Aires Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Worship in
Spanish — Official website of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Trade, and Worship; URL:

– Buenos Aires Clarin ‘s Fernando Soriano reports that in the same but
renovated building where Eva Peron inaugurated a School of Nursing that
bore her name almost 60 years ago, Cristina Kirchner yesterday inaugurated
the Aeronautical University of Ezeiza; the first public university that
will give courses related to the industries of aviation and technology,
close to the international airport. In her address, she reiterated her
criticisms of the policies of adjustment imposed in several EU nations “to
sink the economy.” She also highlighted that 14 universities, of which 10
are public and free of charge, were inaugurated during her and former
President Nestor Kirchner’s administrations. Participants included Buenos
Aires Governor Daniel Scioli, Education Minister Alberto Sileoni, and
local Mayor Alejandro Granados and his wife, Dulce, a national Lower House
depu ty, who promoted the project. (Buenos Aires Clarin.com in Spanish —
Online version of highest-circulation, tabloid-format daily owned by the
Clarin media group; generally critical of government; URL:

– Buenos Aires La Nacion reports, on its front page and in an article by
Mariano De Vedia, that Archbishop of Santa Fe Monsignor Jose Maria
Arancedo, 71, was elected president of the Episcopate yesterday and will
succeed Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio. A first
cousin of late President Raul Alfonsin, Arancedo is a “moderate” and the
government expects “relative concord” in comparison to the conflicts that
raged between Bergoglio and the Kirchners. Government Doubles Offensive
Against Mayor – Buenos Aires El Cronista reports that Mauricio Macri
announced yesterday that he was preparing a bill to expropriate the
collapsed building to be able to compensate the victims and the government
increased its criticism of him for the second consecutive day. In related
news, El Cronista reports that a court has suspended the demolition of the
collapsed building to try to seek the remains of a male reported
“disappeared” by his son. In a commentary, El Cronista’s journalistic
director Fernando Gonzalez writes that the president’s greeting to the
mayor on his reelection and his to her on her reelection have been left
“very far” behind and “Cristina and Mauricio begin the battle of 2015.”
(Buenos Aires El Cronista.com in Spanish — Website of independent
newspaper owned by Spain’s Recoletos Group, focusing on financial
information; URL:

Yesterday, City teachers tried again to get into the Legislature, where a

bill was being debated -and was approved- to replace the Teacher

Classification Boards. Meanwhile, the teachers also staged a strike
against

the bill yesterday, leaving 350,000 students without classes for the fifth

time this year and City Education Minister Esteban Bullrich announced that

the school year would be extended to 23 December (La Nacion)

Government Postpones Tenders To Create Digital TV Channels

– Buenos Aires Clarin reports that in a resolution published in the
Official Gazette (BO) yesterday, the Federal Authority of Audiovisual
Communication Services (AFSCA), which is headed by Buenos Aires Governor-
elect Gabriel Mariotto, postponed the tenders, which were slated to begin
today, to create 220 digital TV channels. The argument given was that the
postponement was made at the request of the “interested” parties. Last
Friday, the AFSCA also postponed the tenders to create 110 non-profit
digital TV channels. Radio Journalist Attacked in Misiones

– Buenos Aires La Nacion reports from Misiones that Alejandro Barrionuevo,
a journalist with FM Show in Posada, asserted yesterday that he had been
violently beaten up by two unknown individuals in downtown Posadas, while
accompanied by his eight-year-old son. He also related the attack to his
work, especially to commentaries that he made about irregularities in the
provincial electricity company. Attacked Paper Owned by Church –

Buenos Aires Clarin ‘s Alejandro Alfie reports that the paper that was
attacked in Junin early last Sunday, La Verdad, is the only newspaper
owned by the Church in Argentina. Despite the attack, which occurred a few
hours before the Episcopate began its assembly, the edition was printed by
La Opinion in Pergamino and distributed. Court Arrests Priest in Santa Fe
for Dictatorship Crimes –

Buenos Aires Clarin’s Daniel Santoro reports that the City Federal Court
of Appeals, angered by the “disorder and delays” by Federal Judge Norberto
Oyarbide, yesterday annulled the remand imprisonment of Banking
Association (AB) leader Juan Jose Zanola, businessman Nestor Lorenzo, and
others. Neverthele ss, they will all remain in custody temporar ily,
awaiting justification by Oyarbide for the reasons why, after almost two
years since their arrest, they should continue in remand. The appellate
court also confirmed the lack of evidence against former Buenos Aires
Health Minister Claudio Zin, Nestor Vazquez, former Health Services
Superintendence (SSS) head; and businessman Enrique Dratman, who is
married to K Lower House Deputy Diana Conti (Federal Capital). Economic
Government Advances With Plan To Reduce Subsidies From December

– Buenos Aires El Cronista ‘s Pablo Fernandez Blanco reports that in a
single swoop, the government has given a new price structure to the
Argentine electricity market. It did so through Resolution 1301 from the
Energy Secretariat, which El Cronista has accessed. The regulation, which
will be published in the BO in the coming days, stipulates the application
of seasonal reference prices for non-subsidized sectors from 1 November
2011 to 30 April 2012. The new structure will increase th e price of
electricity paid by big companies by over 50% and “opens the door” to a
reduction of subsidies in “multiple sectors.” Transport Secretary Denies
Fare Increase

– Buenos Aires La Nacion’s Oliver Galak reports that in radio statements
yesterday, Juan Pablo Schiavi denied that the government was analyzing an
increase of the fare on urban passenger transport. He also questioned
public statements from the sector about the price of the fare if the
government withdrew the subsidies and urged sector businessmen to address
service quality and not fares. Inflation: Bill To Emit 500-Peso Note
Advances

– Buenos Aires El Cronista reports that the Lower House Finance Committee,
which is chaired by Civic Coalition (CC) Deputy Alfonso Prat-Gay, managed
to muster quorum yesterday and approved the bill, which was presented by
Prat-Gay, to emit new legal-tender notes of 200 and 500 pesos ($117).
According to Pray-Gay, the 100-peso bill now has one si xth of the
purchasing power that it had in January 1992. Retail-Dollar Purchases
Evaporate, but Reserves Lose $620 Million

– Buenos Aires El Cronista ‘s Ignacio Olivera Doll reports that the
official “clamp” on the purchase of dollars in the formal market is
impacting and, according to market sources, purchase of currencies by
small savers has fallen from a daily average of just over $100 million,
before the controls, to between only $10 million and $20 million, now,
This, as expected, impacts on the informal market and the “blue”
peso-dollar rate increased to 4.74 pesos yesterday, while the wholesale
formal rate closed unchanged on 4.26 pesos and the retail on 4.28 pesos.
Meanwhile the Central Bank (BCRA) sold about $50 million on the spot
market yesterday and then repurchased the same amount. Nevertheless,
strangely, reserves fell $119 million in the day’s trading to $46.964
billion. Why? Undoubtedly, because of the withdrawal of dollar-denominat
ed deposits, on which the banks have “required reserve ratios” in the
BCRA: when those dollars are withdrawn, reserves automatically fall. In
related news, El Cronista’s Mariano Gorodisch reports the demand for
safe-deposit boxes in banks has increased 30% this month by “savers” that,
according to market sources, have withdrawn over $1 billion from
dollar-denominated savings’ accounts since the Federal Administration of
Public Revenues (AFIP) controls on currency purchases began last Monday
week. BCRA Helps Banks With ‘Free’ Dollars To Stem Capital Flight

– Buenos Aires El Cronista ‘s Olivera Doll reports that in an effort to
stem capital flight and avoid interruption of pre-financing for exports,
the BCRA implemented a system yesterday to help banks with practically
“free” dollars: it launched dollar-denominated loans over one, seven, and
30 days -“repo agreements”- at an interest rate of only 0.1% annually. No
bank opted to utilize the instrument on its debut yesterday, but it could
report edly be utilized by small banks in the coming weeks. New Regime:
BCRA Establishes “1-to-1” for Banks To Purchase Dollars

– Buenos Aires El Cronista ‘s Julian Guarino reports that “dollar that
departs, dollar that enters:” this law embodied by Domestic Trade
Secretary Guillermo Moreno now has its counterpart in the financial
market. Yesterday, the BCRA, while it continues losing reserves through
the flight of dollar-denominated deposits: $600 million since it
introduced the controls, “imposed a new regime: Yesterday morning, it
called some banks to sell them about $45 million, which the same banks
were obliged to sell back to it in the afternoon. Between the first and
second operations, the BCRA “sleuths” called the banks’ currency brokers
to request the data of the companies to which they had sold the dollars.
Then they called the companies to check the data and then, as one of the
few sectors authorized to purchase dollars are the importers, they called
the same banks to “insinuate” to them that they should have done all
possible to liquidate dollars from exports. Market sources have termed the
ploy “informal pressure” and the implication is, reportedly, that if a
bank does not have export dollars to liquidate, it cannot request dollars
for importers. BCRA Continues Injecting Pesos

– Buenos Aires El Cronista reports that with interest rates in the
“freezer” and with the banks not only “not” wanting to loan money, but
treasuring liquidity; the BCRA had to inject just over 900 million pesos
($211 million) into the system in its weekly sale of Lebacs yesterday; for
the second consecutive week. Mini-Run on Dollar in Argentina Not Impacting
Significantly on Uruguayan Banks

– Mario Bergara, Central Bank of Uruguay president, tells Buenos Aires El
Cronista ‘s Olivera Doll in an interview th at “the growth of Argentine
deposits in Uruguay has been constant but moderate.” He was here to
address the annual Latin-American Economic Research Foundation (FIEL)
conference.

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